President Trump

A breakdown of the latest political news in Iowa, including Trump’s visit and immigration debates, with political scientists Kelly Shaw and Wayne Moyer.

In a visit to Iowa, President Trump rallied Republican support ahead of the midterms and tried to appeal to voters with provisions from the One Big Beautiful Bill and by asserting his support for ethanol industry priorities.

Students across the country took part in the “Free America Walkout” on Tuesday to protest recent ICE actions in Minneapolis. In Sioux City, where the school district is one of the most diverse in the state, a large group gathered outside North High School.

Recent U.S. military operation in Venezuela has ignited debate across the country, not only over the action against Maduro, but more broadly over the President Donald Trump's foreign policy doctrine. Political scientists Kelly Shaw of Iowa State University and Sara Mitchell of the University of Iowa join the program to analyze the international fallout of Trump's foreign policy doctrine. Later in the hour, discussion on how the White House rewrites the history of Jan. 6, 2021 and Tim Walz decision to not run for a third term as governor of Minnesota.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon announced plans to ease some restrictions on federal education funding at a public school in western Iowa.

Diogenes Ayala was named Iowa's Emergency Manager of the Year in 2022 for his response to a Madison County tornado that left six residents dead. In December 2024, Ayala was appointed to serve on the National Advisory Council for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, but a few weeks later the entire council was dismissed by the Department of Homeland Security. Ayala discusses this brief appointment and what the future holds for FEMA. Then, Iowa Flood Center Director Larry Weber joins to discuss further investments in flood forecasting.

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers were killed in Syria, the first American casualties there since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. Political scientists Karen Kedrowski and Wayne Moyer break down what it means. Plus, Iowa politics including U.S. Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ role in the House GOP health care debate and a new Republican challenger in Iowa’s 1st Congressional District. We also touch on campaign shakeups in the 4th District and other key political developments.

Former Ambassador George Kent spent 33 years in the foreign service, serving twice in diplomatic roles in Ukraine, and most recently as the ambassador to Estonia. He notably gave testimony in the 2019 House impeachment inquiry of President Donald Trump. Host Ben Kieffer spoke with the diplomat while he visited Des Moines this week, speaking to the Greater Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations. They spoke on several topics, including his cross-country bicycle ride, his termination from the federal government and what he calls the "decimation" of the United States' professional foreign service being carried out by President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Immigration advocates say an Afghan man was detained, questioned and released by ICE in Des Moines on Tuesday. Afghan community leaders and advocates report many families are feeling fearful and anxious in the wake of the Trump administration's sweeping immigration restrictions.

In March, the entire Institute of Museum and Library Services staff was placed on administrative leave by the Trump administration, indefinitely pausing all work processing 2025 grant applications. Now, the IMLS has reinstated terminated grants.